Pictured (L to R) : Michael Wagler, Main Street Iowa state coordinator, Main Street Coon Rapids Director Katie
Mason, Board President Joe Stitz, Debi Durham, executive director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority
(IFA),
Main Street Coon Rapids (MSCR) and its board president were honored with three recognitions during the 2024 Main Street Iowa Development Awards ceremony last Friday. For the past five years, MSCR has completed over 32 projects, investing over one-million dollars in private funding, along with being awarded over one-million dollars in grants and matching upward of $200,000 from city funding. The organization used this funding to invest in commercial and property possession and rehabilitation in the Main Street District. MSCR was awarded the five-year milestone award for being in operations that long and for surpassing the one-million-dollar benchmark of private dollars collected. Board President and one of the founding members of MSCR, Joe Stitz, was also recognized for the Main Street Iowa Leadership Award for his contributions to the Main Street Program. Stitz was nominated for strengthening local businesses by finding training, funding, and networking opportunities for them, all while making himself available for everything with Main Street. Stitz thanks MSCR and Main Street Iowa for the award and the Coon Rapids community, saying, “Since our community became a Main Street Community, I have seen so many changes take place and not just physical changes. I have lived in Coon Rapids for ten years and have witnessed the pride in our community grow in the past five years. People have come out of the woodwork to support our Main Street organization physically, financially, and in spirit. The overwhelming support we receive from Main Street Iowa has also helped us stay on track to complete our ambitious goals.” Since starting Main Street Iowa nearly 40 years ago, the program has invested more than $2.7 billion in private investments, 3.8 million volunteer hours, 5,500 new businesses, and supported more than 16,600 jobs throughout Iowa. A complete list of award winners is included below.
